With a catalog of hard-hitting songs that unflinchingly address everything from mental-health struggles to the day-to-day battles of life, the Toronto-based alt-rock veteran is living testament to the guts and determination needed to play — and win — in the modern music industry, while inspiring others to follow in his bootsteps and chase their dreams.
“My music is about my experiences,” he says frankly. “The highs, the lows and everything in between. it's about the tribulations in life that we all go through. I take the struggle and I turn it into art. I wanna connect and help people get through the hardships and believe in themselves."
And no surprise, the relentless artist is determined to do it on his own terms. Always has been. Music was the only thing that captured Køster at a young age. Born in Switzerland and raised in Burns Lake, BC, he discovered his love for punk rock and alternative music like countless other young Canadians — by watching bands like Sum 41, Billy Talent and Rise Against on MuchMusic through his early teens. He soon realised his goal and purpose in life was to join their ranks.
Once he left school, his all-consuming passion to rock only grew exponentially. He started off playing drums in Kelowna band The Blackbirds, eventually moving up to the front of the stage as the founder and leader of The Fallaways. With them, the hard-working and determined Køster painstakingly honed his musical and performance skills, heading up more than 120 shows as he climbed the ladder of the Canadian west coast music scene.
“The Fallaways was the stepping stone I needed to learn about the music industry, life in a band, singing, stage presence and overall what it takes to make your mark,” Køster explains. Nearly a decade of hard work and hard lessons in that world gave him the platform to level up and aim even higher — by putting his songwriting aspirations front and centre.
“To me, great songs set an artist apart,” he insists. “Rather than being the greatest player, I wanted to focus on being the greatest songwriter.”
But the truth is, behind every great songwriter, there's a great team. Through the new global online mentoring initiative Bandwagon, Køster was able to secure management with founder Leon Harrison (The Lazys) — and to work with his idols, Jason 'Cone' McCaslin and Deryck Whibley of Sum 41.
“I knew I'd worked hard enough to be deserving of the opportunity,” ˚Køster says proudly. “Now it was just a matter of proving I deserved to be there.”
In the summer of ‘22, Køster made a move from Vancouver to Toronto to pursue his newfound opportunities. Shortly after his arrival, he met Justin Benlolo (BRKN LOVE), and before you could say ‘kindred spirits,’ there were two songs in the can, both co-written and produced by Benlolo. With both Justin and Cone behind the board, Køster's upcoming debut album is clearly going to be a knockout.
“Working with two producers on the same album has been a great way for me to demonstrate both sides of my songwriting styles,” he admits.
Keep your eyes and ears open for Køster's album. Packed with energized tracks, vibrant production and songs ripped straight from the rough side of reality, it will be well worth the price. And then some.